You make a 26-hour, 840-mile round trip journey to watch your team, only to see your star man sent off after less than 30 minutes in defeat.

That was the story for some Gloucester fans who travelled via road and sea to watch their side play against European heavyweights Munster in the Heineken Champions Cup, yet they returned in good spirits and feeling positive about their team.

Kingsholm Supporters’ Mutual (KSM) put on a coach for 50 fans, which left at 2am on Friday, crossing the Irish Sea from Holyhead to Dublin before arriving in Limerick at around 3pm the day before the game and returning on Sunday at gone 11pm after leaving the hotel at 10am.

Gloucester fans get on the bus to Limerick at 2am

Gloucestershire Live head of sport Rob Iles joined them for the journey and spoke to some of the fans about their experience and thoughts on the game.

On the way to Limerick

Dave Ward left his home in Cricklade at 1am to get to the coach on time.

He said: “I follow them everywhere. Hopefully we’ll at least get a bonus point out of it. It would be nice to get a win but we’ve got to be realistic and have a good time."

The early start was worth it for Richard Coole who said:

“I think it’s the whole fact you go over with a group of people, the whole atmosphere.

“I think it (the game) will be tight. I don’t know which way it will go but I’m just looking forward to it.”

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Ray Goold was a first time traveller with KSM with Gloucester’s return to the Heineken Champions Cup persuading him to make the journey.

He said: “It’s very well organised. It’s great to have that pressure taken off you. You can just sit back and enjoy the journey. It becomes part of the day and part of the experience.

“We’ve been waiting a few years now to get into the big boys’ cup, and playing against good teams Gloucester always play that much better so we’re looking forward to a good competition.

“A losing bonus point would be a good result but I think we can sneak a win.”

Match day

A lot of Gloucester fans soaked up the atmosphere in Limerick on their walk to the game.

Speaking outside the ground before the game, Tom Reade was excited to visit Thomond Park for the first time.

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He said: “Along with Clermont it’s one of the grounds I really want to visit so to get the chance to see Gloucester play here is fantastic.

“I’d be quite happy with a losing bonus point but as long as we’re in it with 20 minutes to go we might have a chance of scraping it.”

Post-match reaction and journey home

Despite the defeat and a long journey back to Kingsholm, most Gloucester fans remained upbeat and were able to reflect on a good trip but the big talking point was Cipriani’s red card for what was deemed to be a dangerous tackle as he made contact with the head of Munster’s Rory Scannell.

Daniel Harkins, a first-time traveller for a European away fixture, said he would “definitely do it again.”

He said: “I think Gloucester were in it for 20 minutes but the sending off killed the game. I think the referee spoilt the game.

“Everyone we spoke to from Munster said after the game ‘you got robbed’.

“Sometimes there’s a grey area, it’s not black and white. If it’s a split second, you can be off the field.

Gloucester's Danny Cipriani walks off after being shown a red card (Image: PA)

“As soon as they spun the ball wide they had the overlap each time and that’s what killed it. You can’t defend against that.

“Everywhere we went, they were just lovely people. Even in the ground right by us shouting and cheering I thought they were great and after the game they dragged us to the bar.”

Matthew Allen, who also travelled with KSM to Bilbao for Gloucester’s European Challenge Cup final against Cardiff Blues in May, said: “I want to do one a year. At least one of the big away game.

“I’ve been to quite a few places. I enjoy it and go to quite a few away games anyway.

“For being a man down, we didn’t do that bad at all. The players did us proud.”

Steve Smith was visiting Limerick for the first time and liked it so much he is considering going back.

He said: “It’s a really nice place to be. I’m tempted to go back to the West coast of Ireland and take some holiday time next year."

"The team did the best they could under the circumstances and in fact I think they went above and beyond. It’s been good times.”

Colin Hayward of KSM led the coach trip and was pleased with how the weekend panned out – apart from the result.

“It’s been a good trip. Despite the result I think everyone’s quite positive,” he said.

“I think everybody realised the situation of the game that we played the majority of it with 14 men, for the team to keep going and score the three tries in the second half certainly made it worthwhile for the fans.

“It shows the team put the effort in right to the end so it’s been a great trip.

“The Limerick people have been fantastic, really welcoming and we’ve had a good time.”